Amphoteric & Cationic Surfactants for Home & Industrial Care

Overview

Amphoteric and cationic surfactants are charge-bearing surface-active agents used across household, industrial, and institutional (HI&I) cleaning and personal-care formulations. Amphoteric surfactants carry both positive and negative charges depending on pH, while cationic surfactants carry a net positive charge; between them they deliver foam, wetting, viscosity control, antistatic and softening performance, along with quaternary-ammonium (quat) chemistry that formulators select for a wide range of industrial and institutional cleaning systems. RawSource sources these surfactants in bulk — drums, totes, and container loads — to specification.

For foam boosting and secondary surfactancy in shampoos, hand and body washes, and general-purpose cleaners, cocamidopropyl betaine is the workhorse amphoteric, valued for its foam and its ability to reduce the harshness of anionic systems. Lauramine oxide (lauryldimethylamine oxide) serves as a foam stabilizer, viscosity builder, and grease-cutting co-surfactant in dish and hard-surface formulations. On the cationic side, benzalkonium chloride (BKC, ADBAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) are quaternary ammonium compounds used in a range of industrial and institutional cleaning and treatment formulations. Di(C14-18 alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride (dialkyldimethylammonium chloride) is the classic cationic softening and antistatic active for fabric-care and rinse-added formulations, where its twin long-chain structure drives substantivity to fibers.

These materials are intended for industrial and professional formulation use only. Consult the current SDS for each product, and confirm material compatibility and regulatory status for your specific process and jurisdiction before use.

Recommended Chemistries

6 materials

Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC, ADBAC)

CAS 8001-54-5

Cationic quat surfactant / registered antimicrobial active Quick view

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

CAS 61789-40-0

Amphoteric co-surfactant (foam & mildness) Quick view

Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Cocobetaine, CAPB)

CAS 61789-40-0

Amphoteric co-surfactant (foam & mildness) Quick view

Di(C14-18 alkyl) Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride (Dialkyldimethylammonium Chloride)

CAS 68002-59-5

Surfactancy Quick view

Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride (DDAC)

CAS 7173-51-5

Cationic quat surfactant / registered antimicrobial active Quick view

Lauramine Oxide (Lauryldimethylamine Oxide)

CAS 1643-20-5

Surfactancy Quick view

Where it's used

Foam boosting and mildness enhancement in liquid dish, shampoo, and body wash (betaine)
Viscosity building in anionic surfactant systems
Quat-based disinfectant-cleaner and sanitizer concentrates (registration required for claims)
Hard-surface cleaners requiring cationic surface substantivity
No-rinse and food-contact sanitizer formulations (registration required for claims)

Frequently asked questions

Does RawSource supply amphoteric and cationic surfactants in bulk?

Yes. RawSource sources cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), benzalkonium chloride (BKC), and DDAC for cleaning and disinfectant formulations in drums, totes, and IBCs, each with a verified CAS number, SDS, TDS, and COA. Send your grade, active concentration, and volume for a bulk RFQ.

Can you mix a cationic quat with an anionic surfactant?

No. Cationic quats such as BKC and DDAC react with anionic surfactants like LAS and SLES to form insoluble complexes that destroy detergency. Build quat disinfectant-cleaners as a separate cationic or nonionic system; amphoteric betaines, by contrast, are compatible with anionic surfactants.

Are benzalkonium chloride and DDAC regulated?

They are used as antimicrobial actives, so any product that makes a sanitizing or disinfectant claim with them requires registration with the relevant authority (the EPA in the US). Confirm regulatory status for your application and jurisdiction before making any antimicrobial claim.

What does cocamidopropyl betaine do in a cleaning formula?

Cocamidopropyl betaine is an amphoteric co-surfactant. It boosts foam, builds viscosity, and reduces the harshness of anionic surfactant systems in liquid dish, shampoo, and body-wash formulations. It is not an antimicrobial active and carries no registration requirement.

References

Disclaimer. Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification, and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.

Amphoteric & Cationic Surfactants

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